Branch Mint Proof half dollar brings $299,000

1839-O Capped Bust half dollar appears in Heritage auction

One of only four examples known, this 1839-O Capped Bust half dollar, graded NGC Proof 65, brought $299,000 at auction Feb. 2 in Long Beach, Calif. Images courtesy of HeritageAuctions.com.

An 1839-O Capped Bust half dollar, one of only four examples of the Branch Mint Proof known, realized $299,000 Feb. 2 in Long Beach, Calif., during Heritage Auctions’ Feb. 2 and 3 sale.

The auction was held in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo.

The coin, one of 2,120 lots offered in three public sessions, is graded Proof 65 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp.

Of the lots offered, 92.6 percent were reported sold, bringing total prices realized of $9,195,096. Prices realized include the 15 percent buyer’s fee added to the final closing hammer price of each lot won.

For more details about the auction, visit Heritage Auctions online at www.ha.com, write the firm at 3500 Maple Ave., 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219-3941, or telephone Heritage at either 800-872-6467 or 214-528-3500.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.